The former Royal Asiatic Society building
Far from the maddening crowds on the Bund, the Rockbund Art Museum on Huqiu Lu (虎丘路) is a favored destination that singularly embodies the East meets West history, design and architecture of…
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The diversity of design in shikumen headers
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The Invisible Stain of Japanese Comfort Houses in Shanghai’s Lilongs
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Conversations: Jie Li on “Shanghai Homes: Palimpsests of Private Life”
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A history of the (underground) printing press in Shanghai’s shikumen
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“Chairman Mao Goes to Anyuan (安源)”: A Mural in Siwen Lane (斯文里)
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Elaborate lattice woodwork in Confucius Lane (孔家弄)
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My favorite Shanghai moments for Vogue
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Neighborhoods
The simplicity in patterned wood
I’ve always liked the predictability and soothing effect of uncomplicated patterns. This was one reason why I found myself standing in front of a discreet entrance off the…
The diversity of design in shikumen headers
What makes a shikumen (石库门) header an architectural tapestry so emblematic of Shanghai? The grey stone pediment, shaped in a triangle or semi-circle, contains designs that range from the…
Conversations
Conversations: Maureen Fan on the legacy of architect Robert Fan Wenzhao
My interview with Maureen Fan about her grandfather, Robert Fan Wenzhao (1893-1979), has been long overdue. What started as an introductory email several years ago grew into a…
Behind the camera: K.S. McMullen on filming docu-fiction ‘Nail House’
I love hearing from passionate artists who reach out to share their works – photo essays, poems, short films – a reflection of their time, consideration and dedication….
Behind the Camera: Alessandro Zanoni on Shanghai’s urban landscapes
In the years of photographing Shanghai, I’ve had a chance to meet a wide array of talented photographers and researchers as enthusiastic about documenting the city as I am. They…
Latest Posts
Cosplay* in the lanes
Even in the dusky evening, it was hard to miss the bulbous head of pink hair. I sprinted after her, nearly crashing into her back. “Hey! Sorry, can I…
Behind the camera: Fiona Reilly on street food photography
Armed with both a camera and an adventurous appetite, Fiona Reilly is fearless and passionate about street food. She writes LifeonNanchangLu.com which exhaustively details all the street food she has tried…
Life behind the wall
It can be claustrophobic in the alleys, especially when the backs of the shikumen apartments sit so closely to one another; it feels they are closing in. Hengfeng Lane (恒丰里) along the leafy…
Rolling out the red carpet
I rounded a bend in a quiet lane and found him sweeping studiously. The rolled up red carpet seemed a bit random in a residential neighborhood. “What are you…
Taking sides
Where a commotion takes place, crowds gather and traffic slows. I was in mid-conversation with a local resident who was pointing out a shop along Shunchang Lu (顺昌路)….
Behind the Camera: Lahem (拉黑) on capturing China’s post 80s and 90s generation
I first came across the introspective photography of Lahem (拉黑) (born 1984) on the Chinese street photography collective Zaijietou.com (meaning “in the street”). We finally met in 2010 at the Shanghai Photography Night run…
Radio confessions
“Hello. I need help.” “Who is on the line?” “.. can you help … I’m sorry, what?” “Caller, your name?” “My surname is Li.” “Mr Li. Tell us…
Aerial landscapes of Fujian province
Today is a smoggy, filthy day in Shanghai. My eyes burn just a little, my throat ticklish from deceptive and stubborn dust particles. Friday conversations have turned to plans for December….
The Seven “Don’ts” for Residents
1. Don’t spit carelessly 2. Don’t litter 3. Don’t destroy public property 4. Don’t destroy greenery 5. Don’t jaywalk 6. Don’t smoke in public places 7. Don’t curse
The stress of a wedding dress
Peering through the window of the wedding store, past the orgy of exploding sequins, glossy taffeta and cheap lace, a gaggle of middle-aged and young women hurried around a young…
“Good wood is always a good buy”
“I’ve been tearing down homes around this area a long time,” the shopkeeper picked at his shirt and flicked off lint with a long, yellowish pinkie fingernail. “You…
On the Karakoram Highway to Khunjerab Pass in Xinjiang
Following the end of the National Day holidays in October, colleagues returned to the office filled with colorful stories of home stays in Yunnan, shared bus rides through…
Setting up Help Portrait in your city
Help Portrait Shanghai Dec 7, 2013. Get involved here. In my time photographing for the blog, one of the most fulfilling actions have been gifting portraits to my…
Behind the Camera: Clary Estes on being “Left Behind” in Jiangxi province
Clary Estes is a photojournalist born and raised in Kentucky, US, and spends a great deal working in Appalachia, East Asia and across the US. Currently, she is…